Cataphyll
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A leaf, sometimes abortive, sometimes persistent, that does not develop into a photosynthetic structure, but instead fulfills protective or storage functions. Examples include cotyledons, bud-scales, glochids, rhizome-scales, and bulb-scales.
- 2 a reduced or scarcely developed leaf at the start of a plant's life (i.e., cotyledons) or in the early stages of leaf development wordnet
Synonyms
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From cata- + -phyll; intended as translation of German Niederblatt, literally, “lower leaf”.